Hebert, who appeared on Womack's season alongside Maynard before going on to front her own season of The Bachelorette, told E! Online: "I was so excited for Emily, one because she really is the sweetest person I've ever met, and I was really sad that her and Brad didn't work out because I thought they were a good match.

"I know Emily is going into this with really high hopes that she does find her one true love and after everything she's been through I hope she finds it."

Watch Ashley Hebert talking to E! Online below:

Shawntel Newton, who also appeared on that season of The Bachelor, gave her thoughts on Maynard as the next Bachelorette in an interview with reporters shortly before her participation in the show was confirmed.

"Emily's a great person and lot of people have fallen in love with her and her daughter," she said. "I think it would be hard just because of her daughter and if they did traveling and everything, because I know that she struggled with that when we were on Brad's season together with being away from her daughter for so long.

"She'd be great because now a lot of viewers want to see her fall in love and really like her. She's a very good person, though I think it'd be really hard for her to send people home because she's so nice... handling certain situations I think would be very hard for her just because she's so sweet. But I definitely would watch."

In a statement announcing Maynard as the new Bachelorette, ABC said: "Even though it didn't work out [with Womack], she knows that the series can work. Among those 25 men, she is looking for someone who makes her laugh, doesn't take himself too seriously and can be her best friend.

"Emily is hoping that the third time is the charm."

The current season of The Bachelor - starring Ben Flajnik - airs Monday nights at 8/7c on ABC.